Despite naming an attacking line-up with two strikers, Sherwood's side were unable to give David De Gea much pause for thought.

In truth there were few clear-cut chances for either side until Ander Herrera broke the deadlock with a fine finish from the edge of the box after running into some space.

Other than that, the major talking point of the first half was a penalty appeal from Wayne Rooney that was denied by Roger East - one of several decisions by the referee that may have benefited from a second look.

In the second half, Wayne Rooney did what he does so well - scoring against Aston Villa - to ensure three points for United.

The hosts probably should have been out of sight, but just minutes after Rooney's goal, Christian Benteke found the back of the net to ensure a tricky final few minutes at Old Trafford until Herrera's late strike confirmed it.

And here's what we learned:

Herrera-Mata axis gives United better balance

(Image: Rex)

To say Manchester United's season has been inconsistent is something of an understatement.

Around the corner from every peak is a trough just waiting to trip them up.

And yet in a season of such ups and downs, Louis van Gaal's side have still managed to put together the best home record in the league, with 12 wins, one draw and two losses at Old Trafford before today.

Compare that to their efforts on the road, where the Red Devils have managed just five wins and seven draws, losing three times.

Despite a daunting run of fixtures, they've also picked up some big wins in recent weeks - particularly against Tottenham and Liverpool - with some fine performances to match the results.

Manchester United's 2014/15 home record in the league

13

Won

1

Drawn

2

Lost

At the heart of the upturn in form is the axis of Herrera and Mata ahead of Carrick in the middle of the pitch, a combination that the manager seems to be settling upon.

Today, and not for the first time, Herrera also scored with a driven effort from the edge of the box.

That's quickly becoming something of a specialty for the former Bilbao man.

The all-Spanish partnership may have come about in part due to Di Maria's enforced absence, but now the Argentine finds himself stuck on the bench.

They aren't the glamour names that were brought in at Old Trafford this summer, but at this point it seems that the pair - along with the likes of Carrick, Rooney and Blind - will be central to the next great United team.

Making the difference: Herrera's goal sent United on their way (Image: Getty)

Sherwood has Villa on the right path

For much of the season, Aston Villa's play was characterised by plenty of slow possession and a complete lack of goals.

Since his arrival, Tim Sherwood has attempted to ensure that this group is playing to its strengths and so far, results suggest he's got them on the right path.

Today, again, they lined out with an attacking formation that conceded possession in midfield for counter-attacking threat, with both Agbonlahor and Benteke on the pitch.

United completely bossed the ball as the visitors looked to play on the counter attack.

Go again: Sherwood must keep Villa fighting for points until the end of the season (Image: Reuters)

After some promising inroads early on, they failed to really get at De Gea and Sherwood will be disappointed his side didn't do more to test United's fragile defence.

Their best chance came after Weimann beat Valencia before cutting the ball back to Benteke, but from just eight yards out he couldn't right his feet in time and his shot went ballooning over the bar.

Even if they got nothing for their efforts today, Sherwood must make sure Villa keep fighting as they remain in sight of the relegation battle.

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Fellaini continues to grow

'Good touch for a big man': Fellaini has been playing with plenty of confidence (Image: PA)

Not literally of course, but in stature Fellaini has grown significantly this season after starting the year as a pariah at Old Trafford.

An unwanted vestige of the David Moyes era, it seemed almost certain that the Belgian would be offloaded by Van Gaal.

But he persisted with him, at times against the wishes of the fans because of the way his attributes can encourage United to play.

Lately though, with more guile in the middle thanks to Mata's return to the side, Fellaini's size and strength are allowing United to pursue a more versatile tactical approach without over-relying on the long ball to the big man.

(Image: Getty)

With his flowing confidence, his touch seems also to have returned - as was on display early when the Belgian beautifully cushioned a ball over the top into the path of Rooney, who felt he should have had a penalty after a coming together in the box with Clark.

Aston Villa are by no means the first team this season that just couldn't cope with Fellaini.

As far as renaissances go, this is one of the least expected but we welcome it all the same.

Another call for video technology

(Image: Alex Livesey)

Roger East famously fluffed his lines at Old Trafford in February when he sent off West Brown for John O'Shea's foul on Radamel Falcao.

The official had another day to forget at the Theatre of Dreams getting several decisions wrong to the detriment of both sides.

Chief among them was his decision to wave on play after Clark pulled down Rooney in the penalty area with barely any time on the clock.

The England captain may have gone down easily, but that doesn't change the fact that the Villa defender had his arm wrapped around Rooney's neck.

A red card and a spotkick no doubt.

Lucky boy: Ciaran Clark avoids the wrath of Roger East after bringing down Rooney in the box (Image: Getty)

Also certain was that Valencia should have gone into the book for a terrible challenge on Fabien Delph that left the England midfielder in a heap on the floor.

One interesting argument made recently in favour of introducing video is that one of its biggest problems could actually be a major strength.

That is the stoppages in play that watching a replay would introduce.

For as the recent Six Nations showed us, having a quick break after a contentious decision can diffuse what would otherwise be an inflammatory situation as well as breaking up momentum.

Food for thought anyway.

Missed in action: The referee takes no action after Valencia cleans out Delph (Image: Getty)

Young turns on the style

Ashley Young was Manchester United's stand out performer against his former club, with nearly all of their attacks coming through him down the left flank.

Much like Fellaini, he is a player who has seen his stock rise significantly this season under Van Gaal's tutelage, after too often being dismissed in previous campaigns as ineffective and, worse, a cheat.

Strikers deliver in difficult conditions

Strikers on both sides struggled to make their mark on the game, but when they did, they showed just what a quality forward brings to a team.

Chances for Rooney and Benteke were few and far between.

But both made sure their names were on the score sheet, within just minutes of one another.

The Manchester United captain found the net for his ninth goal in seven games against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Whether or not he meant the first touch that pull the ball out of the air, it was certainly an audacious finish from there.

In a season when most expected Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao to lead the line, it's the England man instead that has emerged as the clear main man for United with 12 league goals to his name.

Main man: Rooney scores his 12th league goal of the campaign (Image: Getty)

But is it worth making anything of the fact that his goal came after he'd dropped in behind Falcao after the Colombian was bruoght on with 15 minutes left.

For Villa's part, Benteke will be crucial to their chances of staying up and will need to provide more goals like he did today between now and the end of the season.

Sure, a keeper of the quality of De Gea will be disappointed the ball squirmed its way under him.

Benteke will have to hope that on another day his goals earn points for Villa, with Sherwood calling for a return from all remaining games this season.

Boxed in: Benteke found it difficult going against United's back three (Image: Getty)

The local ramifications

Today's win means that Manchester United are now ahead of their local rivals who don't play until Monday, when they travel to Selhurst Park for what could prove to be a difficult game against Crystal Palace.

With Arsenal also beating Liverpool this afternoon, the Champions actually go into that game sitting fourth in the table, just to show how tight things are.

Perhaps more importantly, a gap is now opening up below the top four with Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham incraesingly looking like they won't be involved in the conversation.

Ramifications: Three points is enough to take United into third, ahead of City (Image: Reuters)

It's a credit to Van Gaal that he looks on course to return United to the Champions League, wherever they may finish.

Talk that he hasn't given up on the title may be credulous, but with every position from second down still up for grabs and automatic qualification for the Champions League on the agenda, there's certainly plenty to play for between now and the end of the season.

It's certainly tight at the top - unless Chelsea win their two games in hand of course.